SmileDirectClub vs. Byte: An Honest Comparison

SmileDirectClub and Byte have a lot in common. Both clear aligner services offer at-home teeth straightening, and both are significantly more affordable than braces or Invisalign. But when you dig a bit deeper, there are actually some major differences between these companies’ services.

We’re here to help you decipher these differences and determine the features you find most important. In this comparison review, we’ll take you on an in-depth tour of SmileDirectClub and Byte, providing all the information you need to choose the best home teeth aligner for you.

Overview & Recommendation: Byte Wins

$1,795

$1,895

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Two Great Companies, but Byte Gets Our Vote.

Both SmileDirectClub & Byte offer huge savings and convenience, but in our opinion, Byte wins the race. Why? Two reasons:

• Industry-Fastest Treatment Time: This is where Byte truly shines, separating themselves from not just SmileDirectClub, but the entire clear aligner industry. There’s evidence that their proprietary HyperByte device, which emits gentle vibrations, can help teeth shift faster for some people, giving Byte an average treatment time of four months. Dentists often charge upwards of $1,000 for similar devices, but Byte includes it for free in your aligner bundle.
• Exceptional Customer Support: Byte assigns each customer a personal advisor, who checks in to answer questions and concerns throughout the treatment process. Plus, once you’re done with treatment, their Byte-for-Life guarantee protects your smile forever. That means if your teeth ever shift after treatment, even years down the line, they’ll realign your smile free of charge — as long as you replace your retainers every six months and wear them as directed.

Is Byte Right for You?

Your perfect match for orthodontic treatment will depend largely on your priorities, budget, and dental condition. That said, Byte is an affordable, high-quality treatment option for most people with mild-to-moderate misalignments. They scored 4.4/5 overall based on our five review criteria (effectiveness, affordability, convenience, appearance, and customer support) — a higher rating than any other provider.

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Effectiveness Comparison

Provided you are a good candidate for at-home aligners, Byte and SmileDirectClub both have excellent track records for effectiveness. They can’t correct the same scope of conditions that Invisalign can, but both can reliably treat most mild and moderate misalignments. Yet Byte goes above and beyond in this category by utilizing innovative technologies to provide a more effective product and process.

Aligner Technology

SmileDirectClub once partnered with Align Tech (the creators of Invisalign) to manufacture their clear aligners. We were huge fans of this partnership, as Align Tech has long been known for producing top-quality, highly-effective aligners. These days, however, SmileDirectClub produces most of its aligners in-house. They’ve implemented a design they call “Comfort Sense,” which is a “proprietary soft, medium, and firm aligner plastic progression to ease teeth more comfortably into place.”

In late 2020, Byte was acquired by Dentsply Sirona, a reputable dental manufacturing company that makes cleaning instruments, scanning machines, retainers, and virtually any other dental equipment you can imagine. So you can be sure that Byte’s products are trustworthy and well-designed.

Other Innovations

SmileDirectClub has been in the home aligner game longer, there’s no doubt about that. But over the past few years, they haven’t introduced any game-changing technology or modifications. As an established, experienced company, they’ve simply relied on their track record, reputation, and results, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

But Byte has shown unrivaled ambition by developing and implementing technologies that drastically impact their treatment’s effectiveness. The aforementioned HyperByte is unique to Byte’s treatment, and it can give you a better, more comfortable, and more effective aligner fit. Plus, unlike other companies, Byte uses special software called Smile Science to evaluate your entire facial structure when designing your treatment plan. This allows their dentists and orthodontists to craft a smile that fits your features perfectly.

Aligner Cut

Byte and SmileDirectClub both produce aligners that overlap your gums, which can help them exert more force on your teeth. These overlapping aligners use your gums as a point of leverage to pivot and push the teeth into alignment, which makes Byte and SmileDirectClub’s aligners more effective than scalloped ones that match the gum line.

Clinical Oversight

In-person clear aligner treatments like Invisalign typically involve office visits every 4–6 weeks, and certain at-home aligner services have attempted to replicate this oversight with remote monitoring. SmileDirectClub, for example, has every customer upload photos of their teeth every 90 days, so their dental team can make sure things are progressing as planned. It’s not as robust as hands-on treatment, but it provides some peace of mind. Byte, however, only requires virtual check-ins if you have certain conditions.

Affordability Comparison

One of the first things many adults check when considering home aligner treatment is their budget. Since both Byte and SmileDirectClub are often thousands cheaper than Invisalign and other in-office treatments, they’re popular choices for budget-conscious adults. Among at-home aligners, though, both services are fairly average when you factor in impression kits, retainers, and other expenses.

Sticker Price

At $2,050, SmileDirectClub’s sticker price is a bit more expensive than Byte’s $1,895 price point. However, there’s also a difference in their impression kit and retainer costs. SmileDirectClub’s impression kit is $59, whereas Byte’s is $95, and neither is included in the sticker price.

SmileDirectClub, however, gives you the option to skip the impression kit by getting a teeth scan at one of their 300+ SmileShops or 1,500+ partnering dental offices. Byte does not have any physical locations, but they include one set of aftercare retainers in their upfront cost. SmileDirectClub charges an additional $99 for retainers at the end of treatment. Even after this give-and-take, both companies’ total costs come out almost equal.

If you choose Byte At-Night, you’ll end up paying $2,295 instead. SmileDirectClub’s nighttime aligners cost the same amount as its standard daytime treatment.

Either company will provide high-quality aligners for much less than traditional in-office options, which often go for hundreds or thousands more.

Payment Plan Options

As you think about cost, you should also keep in mind how you might finance your treatment. Again, SmileDirectClub and Byte offer very similar options. Both offer 100% approval on financing, regardless of your credit score. Here are the details:

• SmileDirectClub offers a 26-month financing plan ($89/month) that requires a $250 down payment.
• Byte’s 32-month plan ($82/month) requires a $249 down payment. For Byte At-Night, it’s $99 a month + a $299 down payment.

BytePay also includes a five-year “Smile Protection Plan,” which includes biannual retainer replacement and two free replacements for lost or stolen retainers. This makes Byte’s financing slightly more expensive than SmileDirectClub’s, but post-treatment retainers often cost close to $100 each, you’re getting a good deal either way.

Either company is a great option, especially if you aren’t confident in your credit score. With both services, you’ll pay a bit extra to finance your care when you factor in the interest paid over time by financing, so it’s worth it to pay upfront if you can make the finances work!

Free Extras

Both companies include free whitening to accompany your aligners, which is a nice touch that allows you to brighten your smile while you straighten your teeth. Byte also includes their HyperByte device with your treatment cost. This is a huge benefit to you, as HyperByte is what makes Byte’s four-month treatment time possible, and it retails for $699 on its own.

Convenience Comparison

As treatments that you can complete entirely from home, both Byte and SmileDirectClub are significantly more convenient than traditional in-person options, which require regular office visits and usually take 12-18 months. With SmileDirectClub’s streamlined startup procedures, Byte’s efficient treatment times, and both companies’ nighttime-only plans, these two even top their at-home competitors in convenience.

Getting Started

When getting started with SmileDirectClub or Byte, you’ll need to send the company images of your teeth. You can purchase an impression kit from either company and use it to create molds of your top and bottom dental arches. However, impression kits can be difficult, especially considering the fact that most customers have never taken molds of their own teeth. And if you choose Byte, this is the only option, so you’re stuck taking your own impressions.

Go with SmileDirectClub, and you can visit any of their 300+ SmileShops for a free teeth scan. If you’d rather not deal with the hassle of taking impressions, or if you’re eager to start treatment, you can pop into a SmileShop where a dental assistant will scan your teeth for free. This will allow the company to get started on your care plan as quickly as possible.

Plus, the SmileDirectClub Partner Network includes more than 1,500 dental offices nationwide, where you can begin your treatment with an in-office consultation and teeth scan if you’d prefer. These dentists won’t be involved throughout your treatment, though. They just take your teeth scans.

Note: If you get started at a SmileShop, you may have the option to sign up for a “Fast Track” service, which gets your aligners to your door as fast as possible. However, it also means you need to pay the full treatment cost upfront. And according to some customer reviews, after agreeing to fast-track their aligner production, they weren’t able to see their full treatment plan before receiving their aligners, so make sure you consider it carefully before signing up.

Treatment Time

One of the biggest advantages at-home aligner treatments have over in-office options is their speed. Byte and SmileDirectClub don’t take nearly as long as braces or Invisalign (which can take 12–24 months or more), and Byte claims to deliver final results in an average of four months, or five months for Byte At-Night. But SmileDirectClub isn’t far behind, with an average treatment time of 4–6 months.

Teeth Whitening

Both Byte and SmileDirectClub include teeth whitening products with your aligners, so you can brighten that smile while you straighten your teeth. With some other options, you can only whiten after you complete your aligner treatment, making Byte and SmileDirectClub more convenient options.

Nighttime-Only Option?

This is a relatively new trend in the home aligner industry. Typically, you would wear your aligners for 22 hours per day. But for anyone who doesn’t think they can stick to that schedule, or would rather not remove and replace their aligners to eat and drink, SmileDirectClub and Byte have each introduced a nighttime-only option.

SmileDirectClub’s Nighttime Clear Aligners are exactly the same as the ones you would receive for an all-day schedule, but you only wear each set for ten hours per day over two weeks instead of one. Of course, this stretches out the overall timeline—extending it to ten months on average. Byte designs their At-Night aligners specifically for ten-hour-per-day wear using premium plastics, and their nighttime aligner timeline is around five months. A nighttime-only plan is a more convenient option for either company, although Byte maintains its slight advantage in speed.

Appearance Comparison

Both Byte and SmileDirectClub provide clear aligners that fit the contours of your teeth and are much less visible than traditional braces, but there are some small differences in the materials they use that impact each product’s appearance.

Aligner Material

SmileDirectClub fashions their aligners from a “frosted” plastic, while Byte uses a smooth, shiny one. What’s the difference? If you want to know our opinion, it’s that aligners made from frosted plastic are actually more discreet because they mimic the naturally matte surface of your teeth. Shiny material can be reflective and potentially more noticeable.

However, this debate is largely subjective and depends on your personal preference. Some customers, for example, prefer Byte’s shiny plastic because they think it makes their smiles gleam. You should consider which you’d like better before making your final decision.

Aligner Cut

As we mentioned in the Effectiveness section, both Byte and SmileDirectClub’s aligners slightly overlap the gums, which makes them more powerful. These aren’t quite as discreet as aligners that are trimmed to match your gum line, however, since people nearby might notice the overlap.

Supplemental Attachments

Invisalign, ClearCorrect, and other in-office clear aligners can incorporate elastics, buttons, or engagers that your dentist can affix to your teeth, enabling more complex dental shifts. These attachments increase the aligners’ effectiveness, but also make them more visible.

Byte and SmileDirectClub can’t offer any attachments, since a dentist needs to apply them in person, but that helps their aligners keep a low profile.

Stain Resistance

Customer Experience Comparison

You want a home aligner company that makes you feel valued and provides quick support when you need it most. When it comes to customer service, Byte is the clear winner.

Both companies offer comparable support options, but in examining numerous customer reviews, we found that both companies offer reassuring lifetime warranties, but Byte stands out in terms of responsiveness and overall helpfulness of company representatives. While they can’t match the personalization of in-person support from a dentist’s office, they’ve taken measures to make their remote support highly satisfying.

Support Options

Both companies are available during standard business hours on a variety of support platforms — phone, webchat, text, and email. They’re both very active on social media and will respond to questions and concerns there as well.

SmileDirectClub allows you to track your progress on a mobile app and have regular virtual “Smile Check-ins” with their dental team. According to the SmileDirectClub website, this dental team is available via chat and text for questions 24/7.

Byte also lets you schedule video calls and phone calls to check in with their care team through your patient portal, although they don’t have an app.

Responsiveness & Helpfulness

Based on many reviews we found, customers generally feel that Byte offers more responsive and thoughtful support than SmileDirectClub.

In fact, SmileDirectClub’s customer support has received mixed reviews over the years. Many SmileDirectClub customers have expressed dissatisfaction with the level of support they received or reported frustrating delays in aligner shipments. The volume of negative reviews and Better Business Bureau complaints accelerated around 2017 as SmileDirectClub attempted to grow its business extremely rapidly, creating inconsistencies in its customer support.

Since then, SmileDirectClub has improved its service quality and customer support—especially with the implementation of their Smile Check-ins and mobile app. But Byte still comes out on top. By all accounts, they’re extremely responsive on all channels.

For example, if you reach out on social media, you can expect a response within 24 hours. Even better is the fact that Byte assigns each customer their own personal advisor, who answers questions and checks in via email throughout the process. It’s like having your personal guide for the teeth straightening journey.

Satisfaction Guarantee

These companies have fairly similar satisfaction guarantees. Either one will work with you to modify your treatment if your teeth aren’t moving as expected, creating new aligners to get you back on track (provided you’ve followed their treatment protocol).

On top of that, both companies have policies that ensure you keep your new smile for life. Byte’s is called the Byte for Life guarantee, and SmileDirectClub calls theirs the Lifetime Smile Guarantee. They might have different names, but they operate the same way.

Imagine that your teeth shift five years after you complete treatment. Byte or SmileDirectClub will send you new aligners to shift them back. Ten years? New aligners. Twenty years? You guessed it — they’ll send you new aligners. However, to qualify, you must order two sets of retainers per year and wear them as prescribed.

Company Backgrounds

After they started in 2018, Byte quickly grew into one of the largest and most established companies in the industry, and they’ve risen to the top of our rankings because of their innovation and efficiency.

At first, we were unsure if Byte could compete with an established industry giant like SmileDirectClub, which then had over 2,000 employees and had served over one hundred thousand customers (as of 2021, the numbers are even higher). But Byte jumped at an opportunity to become a formidable company themselves.

In many ways, SmileDirectClub appears to have grown too quickly, and the quality of their product and customer support has suffered as a result. This unfortunate decision led to many customer complaints and created an opening for Byte to enter the arena promoting efficient treatment times, unique technology, and exceptional customer support.

And customers quickly took notice. Since their start in 2018, Byte has delivered on their claims for quality products and exemplary customer service. They continuously stay at the forefront of industry trends and technology, innovating new ways to increase their aligner effectiveness, convenience, and appearance.

What Are Customers Saying?

When we review a company like Byte or SmileDirectClub, we start by digging through online user reviews to understand the common issues customers face, and how the company handles them. Here’s how these two services stack up.

Byte

Generally, Byte users express positivity and satisfaction with their experience.

They often say they chose Byte because they appreciated the convenience of an efficient treatment plan, and liked that the HyperByte device would help eliminate some of the discomfort associated with orthodontic treatment.

Some customers, however, have noted that Byte’s aligners didn’t straighten their teeth as much as they’d expected, and they had to seek refinements, extending their treatment time. Others were pleased with their results, but were frustrated by going back and forth with customer support. These cases seem to be the exception rather than the rule, but they’re definitely something to consider as you research various aligners.

In the cases where something goes wrong, it seems like Byte worked to resolve the issue. So you can be confident that if you experience any issues during treatment, their support team will have your back.

SmileDirectClub

Given SmileDirectClub’s multi-year history, there are many genuine online reviews detailing customer experiences with the product. Generally, SmileDirectClub customers feel positive about their experiences, despite some hiccups along the way. Customer support seems to be hit-or-miss, but the company seems to keep its promises. Although, it may take some extra effort on the customer’s end.

Each set of aligners seems well-made (most people don’t need to file down any rough edges or irregularities, unlike some other brands), and the treatment process is reportedly only mildly uncomfortable. Most customers report increased discomfort for the first day or two of each aligner set, especially when removing them after a long period of time. This pain subsides quickly and, for most customers, is not a major concern. A majority complete their treatment and feel satisfied with the results.

In addition to the unbiased SmileDirect reviews we’ve collected from our readers, we encourage you to check out the video reviews below for a look at what real customers have to say.

Which Home Teeth Aligner Should You Use?

As you can see, SmileDirectClub and Byte have a lot in common, but their differences are where you want to focus when making a final decision. If you’re still not sure which clear aligner service to choose, let’s look at a couple scenarios that might help you figure out which is the better option for you.